Community photo: Big Country TattooBig Country Tattoo hosted its second annual Tattoos for Toys Drive from Nov. 3 to Dec. 22. Tattoo artists Jason Fort and Chris Tyler offered a discount to customers who donated a $10-15 toy for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. During the event, Fort and Tyler gave over 300 discounted tattoos to collect over 300 toys for local families in need of Christmas assistance. The tattoo shop also put an Angel Tree in their shop to allow custome...

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THE COURIER / SubmittedThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Talburt continues service to airport, communityNote: This is one in a series of articles introducing new Russellville commission members and city employees to our readers. Dwight Talburt was drafted in 1965 and decided if he had to go to Vietnam, he wanted to go as an aviator and achieved certification as a pilot on his own. After he found out he didn’t have to go around the globe, he continued to get certifications because of his enjoyment and interest in aviation. Talburt, who relocated ...

Anticipation loans could prove costlyLITTLE ROCK — As tax season looms, Arkansans will see offers for tax refund anticipation loans or checks. These offers of immediate cash are often attractive to consumers in difficult financial situations, but the products could ultimately reduce the total amount of the consumer’s refund and may even cost extra money. Refund anticipation loans (RALs) and refund anticipation checks (RACs) are high-interest loans that must be repaid by the actua...

Letter to the editor: Gunshow loophole and background checksApparently, Obama is unfamiliar with the HIPAA Law. He should read it, especially the part that says you cannot be refused the purchase of a firearm for being “Mentally Defective” unless you are deemed mentally ill by the courts or committed to a mental institution. Medical professionals are not going to call the BATF every time a patient in their care says they’re angry, depressed, going through a divorce, lost their job or need help dealing ...

News Briefs (Jan. 8, 2016)• Knotie Hat Girls at Pasta Grill Saturday The Knotie Hat Girls will meet at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at The Pasta Grill in Russellville. • Game night at library Jan. 15 The Russellville Public Library will host Family Game Night from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Jan. 15, at the library. Families are invited to participate in board games, card games and video games. For more information, call 479-968-4368. • No drivers tests There will be no drivers writte...

County saw solid growth in DecemberPope County had a really good financial month in December, Treasurer Donna Wall told the Quorum Court’s Budget Committee during its first meeting of 2016 on Tuesday. Gross sales tax receipts for the county’s General Fund for December were $371,412 — an increase of 8.8 percent or $30,295 over December 2014. Year-to-date collections remained ahead of collections through December 2014 by 4.5 percent. Collections ended the year 4 percent ahead of ...

Community photo: Centennial Bank donates to London schoolLondon Elementary recently received a $500 check from Centennial Bank to use for students’ needs. Dan Huckabay, senior vice-president of Centennial Arkansas and Gwen Wolfe, branch manager of Centennial Branch West Main presented the check to London Elementary principal Krista Malin (center).

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THE COURIER / SubmittedThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

ATU appoints Tom Kennedy as new trusteeGov. Asa Hutchinson recently appointed Tom Kennedy of Little Rock to the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees. Kennedy will serve a five-year term from Jan. 15, 2016, through Jan. 14, 2021. He will succeed Eric Burnett of Fort Smith, who served as chairman of the Board of Trustees in 2015. Burnett’s five-year term of service will end on Jan. 14, 2016. This will mark Kennedy’s second term on the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees. He was a m...

Gasoline prices holding steadyAverage retail gasoline prices in Arkansas have fallen 1 cent per gallon in the past week, averaging $1.73 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 1,826 gas outlets in Arkansas. This compares with the national average that has fallen 0.5 cents per gallon in the last week to $1.99 per gallon. Areas nearby Arkansas and their current gas price climate: • Memphis — $1.76 per gallon, flat from last week’s $1.76 per gallon. • L...

News Briefs (Jan. 7, 2016)• Law Enforcement Appreciation Day The Wives of Armor and Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) will host the second annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day celebration from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday at the Hughes Community Center in Russellville. Citizens who appreciate law enforcement and are discouraged about the negative attention being given to law enforcement are encouraged to take time to show support for the area law enforcement officers ...

Dardanelle jail inmate found deadDARDANELLE — An inmate at the Dardanelle Jail was found deceased in his cell just before midnight on Tuesday, according to Yell County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) Chief Deputy John Foster. A jailer performing jail checks reportedly found Lee Aaron Baca, 31, of Plainview, hanging from an upper bunk with a bed sheet wrapped around his neck. Foster said the jailer then summoned help and Yell County EMS, Dardanelle Police and Sheriff’s Deputies respon...

Work continues on Steak ‘n ShakeWork resumed last month on the Steak ‘n Shake restaurant on East Parkway Drive in Russellville and has been more apparent by those passing by in the last week. The owner of the franchise in Russellville said an opening date would be revealed soon.

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THE COURIER / Joshua MashonThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Vaughn returns to public serviceNote: This is one in a series of articles introducing new Russellville commission members and city employees to our readers. After nine years in the private sector, Tanessa Vaughn decided she wanted to get back into public service and joined the city of Russellville’s team as human resources director last month. Vaughn, who succeeded former human resources director Tracey Cline-Pew when she accepted a job in Little Rock, said she once was invo...

Suspect dies following vehicle pursuit after carjackingPope County Dispatch received a call of a robbery and carjacking at approximately 3:25 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2015. The crime occurred on U.S. Highway 64 around the 78-mile marker of U.S. Interstate 40, west of Russellville. The victim stated two black males standing by a vehicle flagged him down and held him at gunpoint. The suspects took his wallet and his vehicle and traveled east. A multi-jurisdictional investigation and a BOLO for the...

Abdelrahman named vice president for academic affairsDr. Mohamed Abdelrahman has been selected as the next vice president for academic affairs at Arkansas Tech University. Abdelrahman has served as associate vice president for research and graduate studies at Texas A&M University-Kingsville since November 2011 and as a member of the faculty there since August 2010. He will take office as the chief academic officer at Arkansas Tech in June 2016. “When we began our search for the next vice preside...